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Overview

Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, is a tourism and business hot spot. Because the city has an excellent public transportation system, including the CTA buses and L-trains, taxis and shuttles from hotels to popular attractions, guests often choose to leave their cars at home. The three train services that travel to Chicago make it possible to enjoy a car-free vacation in the Windy City.

Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District

Chicago commuters and visitors traveling from the South Bend, Indiana, region may take the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s South Shore Line Passenger Service into Chicago. These trains leave daily from the South Bend Airport at 4485 Progress Drive and head to Chicago. The trains stop in East Chicago, Hammond, Hegewisch, the Museum Campus, McCormick Place and several stops in between. The final stop is Millennium Station at Randolph Street. Other pick-up points in Indiana include Michigan City, Porter County, Chesterton, Gary and LePorte County.Because these are commuter trains, they do not have baggage compartments for vacationers. All carry-on baggage must fit in overhead racks or under seats. Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District
33 East US Highway 12
Chesterton, IN 46304
219-962-5744
nictd.com

Metra Rail

Those visiting Chicago from northeastern Illinois and southern Wisconsin may ride the Metra into the city. This commuter rail system offers trains from as far out as Harvard, Illinois, which is 70 miles from downtown Chicago, and Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is 66 miles from the city. Five downtown stations serve as hubs for Metra’s 11 lines, including Chicago Union Station, LaSalle Street Station, Van Buren Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center and Millennium Station.Metra does not allow checked baggage, and large items such as non-folding strollers, skis and large suitcases are not allowed. Metra trains have racks on the upper level that hang over the center aisle. These do allow for small suitcases that would not fit in overhead bins or under the seat. Travelers can purchase tickets at all five downtown stations and any station that has a ticket agent on duty. One-way tickets may be purchased form the train conductor when a ticket agent is not present at the station. Commuters may purchase ten-ride and monthly tickets online.Metra Rail
547 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60661
312-322-6777
metrarail.com

Amtrak

Amtrak, America’s intercity passenger train service, runs trains to downtown Chicago’s Union Station. As of 2012, Amtrak had 11 routes that stopped at Union Station. The Southwest Chief takes passengers from Los Angeles to Chicago, with extended stops in Kansas City and Albuquerque. The California Zephyr, another train from the west, starts in Emeryville, California, traveling to Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver and Omaha before reaching Chicago.Travelers coming from the east may choose the Capital Limited, which starts in Washington, DC, visiting Pittsburgh and Cleveland before ending in Chicago, or the Cardinal/Hoosier State, which runs from New York through Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Charleston, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Other trains come from Seattle, Portland, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Detroit, San Antonio, Boston and cities in southwestern Illinois.As a passenger rail service, Amtrak allows checked baggage, has concessions and dining options and gives guests the opportunity to book sleeping cars. Amtrak
800-USA-RAIL
Amtrak.com

Resources

About the Author

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006, specializing in real estate, finance and travel. When she's not writing, she enjoys traveling and has visited several countries, including Israel, Spain, France and Guam. Harms received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Maranatha Baptist Bible College.

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